Mystery cyclist steals Arsenal Street plants: Watertown Police Log

Wednesday

Sep 5, 2018 at 4:25 PMSep 5, 2018 at 4:25 PM

Following are excerpts from the Watertown Police Department log for July 30 to Aug. 5. The log is public record and available for review. All persons are presumed innocent unless found guilt in a court of law.

Aug. 27

6:20 p.m. Officers responded to Sycamore resident for a report of larceny. The victim's grill, fire-pit and propane tank were taken from his backyard sometime between 8 p.m. on Aug. 26 and 6:20 p.m. on Aug. 27. The value of the stolen property is $394.

Aug. 29

11:53 a.m. A victim came into the Watertown Police Station to report an online scam. A person from Texas had gotten in touch with the victim, who is an artist, asking to purchase some of the victim’s artwork for $1,800. The buyer sent a check for $3,000, and the victim agreed to to send a money order back to buyer for the $1,200 difference. After sending the money order, the victim's bank contacted them, and said the original $3,000 check sent to him was fraudulent. The matter is being investigated.

3:44 p.m. Officers responded to Target on Arsenal Street for past larceny. Upon arrival, police spoke to store security, who told them that on two separate occasions a woman had come into Target and stolen merchandise. They called the police because, in the latest incident, they said they were able to catch the woman’s license plate on video surveillance. The report states police were able to match the woman in both incidents with registry photos attached to license plate. Officers spoke to the woman on the telephone, but she denied any involvement in the alleged larcenies. Police have requested a summons for the woman on two counts of larceny under $1,200.

Aug. 31

12 p.m. A person come into a lobby to report fraudulent activity on his girlfriend’s ATM card. The man’s girlfriend had just passed away on Aug. 10. Prior to her death she was receiving hospice care. He was in the process of closing up her accounts, when he noticed withdrawals via her ATM card. One occurred the day before her death, a second on the day of her death and two more in the days following her death. The withdrawals totaled $900. Police have been in contact with the bank and the hospice company, who are both fully cooperating with investigation. Officers are in the process of reviewing surveillance tapes.

2:23 p.m. A person came into the police station to report an online larceny scam. The victim responded to an ad on Craigslist for Pearl Jam tickets priced at $600. The seller, who claimed to have the tickets, sent a copy of their alleged Massachusetts license with a Wayland address. The victim sent the seller $600 via an electronic transfer. Immediately after, the victim noticed the seller’s email account and cellphone number were shut off. The victim went to the Wayland address the seller had given and spoke to the resident. The resident said they were the victim of identity fraud over a year ago, when his wallet and license were stolen. This was confirmed by the Wayland Police. The matter is under investigation.

6:34 p.m. Officers responded to 233 Main St. for a report of destruction inside one of the Hamilton Company’s vacant apartments. Hamilton had been having problems with a former tenant. When this person moved out, a company representative went inside the apartment and noticed approximately $5,000 of malicious and intentional damage to the interior of the apartment. There were holes in the wall, closet doors ripped off the hinges, damage to the bathroom, cabinets torn of their hinges and smashed mirrors. Officers investigated the matter. The former tenant admitted to damaging the apartment. He said he punched the walls and repeatedly struck the them with a hammer. The tenant explained that he was angry about being evicted from the apartment and was having a bad day. Hamilton Company estimates a minimum of $5,000 of damage to the unit. The man is being summoned to court for malicious destruction of property over $1,200.

Sept. 1

3:21 p.m. Officers responded to athenahealth on Arsenal Street for a report of theft. Police spoke to company security, who stated that at 12:30 p.m. that day they observed, via video surveillance, a woman removing planted plants from the property. They described her as middle age wearing blue pants, a red, short-sleeve shirt, and a blue-and-white helmet. She was riding a teal-colored bicycle and carried a pink backpack. She also appeared to have removed vegetables from athenahealth’s garden. The matter is under investigation.

Sept. 2

4:00 p.m. Officers responded to an Irving Street residence for a report of a stolen cellphone. The victim told officers he had taken an Uber earlier in the evening. While in the vehicle, the victim charged his phone. Upon arriving at his destination, the victim forgot to bring his phone with him when he left the car. The victim later called his phone, which the Uber driver answered. The driver told the victim he would bring the phone back to his house. After an hour of waiting, the victim called his phone again, but it appeared to be shut off. He waited a couple more hours, but to no avail. He then called the police. The victim was able to get back in touch with the driver. The driver told the victim that he had dropped the phone off at the destination the victim was originally picked up from. Officers were also able to get in touch with the driver. He told them he did not have the phone, however police believe there is probable cause to charge him. The driver is being summoned to court for larceny under $1,200.